The Star, Helen Herimbi, Johannesburg, SA, 09.10.2006: "Mr Music - Ike Moriz" ('Prodigal son' returns to show local musos what good music's all about)
The Star, Helen Herimbi, Johannesburg, SA, 09.10.2006
'Prodigal son' returns to show local musos what good music's all about
South Africans become expatriates for many sound reasons. The crime rate, the HIV/aids epidemic, the poverty - but not singer Ike Moriz. His reason for leaving our shores years ago was, in fact, because of the sound. "Besides all the heavy metal, I was just sick of hearing good bands play cover songs. They were much better than that,"says the Capetonian who lived in London for five years but now calls Jozi home.
The adult contemporary artist is back in SA not only because he missed the nature: "I love the outdoors, that's one of the reasons I came back," but also to settle down here. He released his album, Play Me this year to an audience that is slowly but surely catching on to the man's style. While overseas, Ike had roles in Britishsoapies and made a significant living from starring in musicals. His resumé even includes that he taught mathematics and music in London. About this experience he says, as his eyes widen: "It was traumatic, the students seemed to have no respect for anybody and I had trouble keeping them under control." Needless to say he was only too happy to swap the blackboard for a studio booth.
The crooner produces all of his own music and hopes to work with quite a few of SA's top musicians on future projects. He is keen on collaborating with kwaito kid Brickz and has been in talks with Fokofpolisiekar to go into studio together. Speaking of the latter, Ike joked about how cool it would be to have him sing in Afrikaans while Fokofpolisiekar (attempt to) sing in English. This multi-faceted entertainer plays the piano, the guitar and the keyboard. He also shot videos for Play Me and I Feel Real, off the current album, in SA.
But it seems he is somewhat ambivalent about South African music, particularly the Cape Town scene. "I've noticed that they (the musicians) have become a lot more authentic, a lot more open nowadays, a lot more meaningful, but most are still clueless," he pauses and thinks for a moment. Cautiously he continues. "Maybe that's not the right word, they're (the musicians) sometimes just not interested in music. "Just how the South African public with buying power will receive the return of the "prodigal son" remains to be seen. But from where I'm sitting it seems as if Play Me has the potential to end up on repeat.
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